Yesterday I spoke at the now infamous Shonky Awards in Sydney (Shonky defined as poor, of dubious quality, shoddy). After a 23-hour flight from the US, I stepped straight off a plane into the annual CHOICE ceremony and instantly my jetlag evaporated.

It is an awards event like no other, it recognises the worst companies, producing the worst products and services in Australia. Funnily enough no company relishes the prospect of winning and for many these awards turn on its head the maxim of ‘all publicity is good publicity’. I like to say that I wish the winner’s better luck next time, except it isn’t luck that lands them in this sort of trouble; it’s their lack of focus on the customer and at worst deliberate intent to deceive the consumer.

Eight companies and products received gongs and the ensuing media coverage ensured that, as befits our people’s watchdog status, that we were able to ‘warn’ consumers off going anywhere near the winners.

And what winners they were! From a recreational rope that stretched and snapped with minimum force to a website which gives you not only the meaning behind babies’ names but also a $144 a year bill for looking at it – a fact which is hidden in the terms and conditions.

I am delighted that CHOICE is brave enough to put its neck on the line and speak without fear or favor; it is because of our independence, working for and funded by members of the public as their watchdog. The Shonkys are a great way to help CHOICE live its vision that Australian’s should be the most savvy and active consumers in the world.

In this, CHOICE’s 50th anniversary year, the Shonkys have reminded me all over again why we are as relevant today as when we launched in 1960. Yes, product safety has much improved; yes, there are tighter laws to protect consumers; yes, consumers’ opinions are taken into account much more than when we started. But, despite our best efforts, there are still companies out there trying to pull the wool over our eyes, and as the peoples watchdog, it is up to us to guard your interests and put them in the doghouse.